As BGS trainees group committee members, we are currently serving on the standing committees of the BGS as representatives of specialist trainees in geriatric medicine.

As a group, we really would like to represent your views (majority and minority) rather than guessing and presenting what we think your views are when we are asked for trainees’ opinion. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, we would like to contribute to the best of our ability to our Society and to be able to perform our duties efficiently (as your representatives). It is therefore essential that we know what your thoughts are on several issues which are important to the BGS. The other side of the equation is that you all need to know what is going on at Societal and national levels regarding the issues that particularly affect you both in the short and long term.

It’s our future
Our future working life as geriatricians in the UK and ongoing debates such as how older people will be managed in the future (hospital vs. community), how future geriatricians will be trained (Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB, Modernising Medical Careers MMC) etc. can not be separated. It is therefore unwise for us to play “spectator”, letting matters develop without our involvement.

Unfortunately, many things are happening so fast that there is little time to reflect. For example, while many SpRs reading this article have reached a stage in their training where the uncertainty surrounding modernising medical careers does not impact on them, we have to entertain the possibility that MMC new brand would neglect Care of the Elderly Medicine because they are poorly introduced to our speciality. As future consultants, will we take on more mixed acute intake and will a greater proportion of older people get treated by non-geriatricians who may not have adequate support services and expertise? What about payment by results? What is the impact of PMETB? What if a combination of EWTD and Hospital at Night produces incompetent junior staff in the future?

We are in a strong position to have our voices heard on all these issues which affect our careers as consultants. The BGS has long had a culture of trainees being represented on its management committees, and from my own experience over the past two plus years, the committees are anxious to have input from trainees into their management and lobbying decisions. In a politically driven NHS, the Society needs a high profile to secure a reasonable deal for our patients and our speciality. As future leaders of the specialty, we must be proactive and make sure that we are not passive to changes imposed on us and our patients.

As a trainee involved in research, I am aware of the pressures on trainees, but we need to engage with more enthusiasm in the fora where we can influence the trends affecting our long term futures. It is important that you read this Newsletter (or the trainees’ pages at least), because it is here that we keep you apprised of the issues into which as trainees we potentially have input.

Contact details
Well, on a more positive note! The Trainees’ Management Committee is determined to develop better communication among the trainees. We are developing several routes to achieve this a) the regular features in this newsletter (and we always welcome feedback from any of our constituents); we are trying to gather the email addresses of all the trainees (if you think we do not have yours, please contact us . We will also set up a trainees section on the BGS Discussion forum where you may post your views (anonymously if you wish), and we will communicate with you through your regional trainee representatives in the future. I would like to encourage the current regional representatives to identify themselves.

On behalf of the trainees committee, I wish you a very happy and successful year ahead.

Phyo K Myint
Chair
BGS Trainees Committee